Attorney General Nisbett promises to lead the war against crime

Oct 7, 2010

St. Kitts and Nevis Attorney General Hon. Patrice Nisbett

ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 7TH 2010 (CUOPM) – Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs, Hon. Patrice Nisbett says as the principal Legal Advisor to the Federal Government he must lead the war against crime while at the same time have strict regard to the strictures of the Constitution.

In remarks to Chief Justice His Lordship Mr. Justice Hugh Rawlins and other Justices of the Appeal Court at Special Sitting to mark the start of a new Law Term, the Nevisian-born Attorney General said the law must keep apace or ahead of criminal conduct.

“Before the propulsion of internet technology round about 1989, these islands in the Caribbean as well as on the continents were beleaguered by the supply and consumption of narcotic substances. In these times the latter is coupled with the advantage to criminals of cyber space technology. Cyber space technology has no geographical boundaries. Face-book information, twittering, emails and the blogs are easy avenues which facilitate criminal mischief,” said the Attorney General.

“These are the vices which confront us. These are the same vices which the developed countries with their vast resources face,” said the Attorney General.

He told the Bench that the small community of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) faces dilemmas.

“But we must confront and destroy or at least deter the urge to get rich overnight at the expense of honest hard-working people. As Attorney General, the principal Legal Advisor to the government, I must lead in the war against crime while at the same time have “strict regard to the strictures of our Constitution,” said Mr. Nisbett.

He said that existing laws must be reviewed and the review on the criminal side must take cognizance of the rights of victims of crime.

“Regrettably the zeal in safeguarding the rights of those charged with crime in a manner of speaking has emasculated victims’ rights,” said Attorney General Nisbett

He told Chief Justice Rawlins, Appeal Court Judges and the legal fraternity that the law in the jurisdiction of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court must keep apace or ahead of criminal conduct.

Justice will be swift. Justice will be sure. Justice will be significant and meaningful. In this regard, you, my Lords as the independent judiciary are expected to play a major role consistent with your mandate and the rule of law,” the St. Kitts and Nevis Attorney General concluded.